Dalian Diamond Tower

210K sqm mixed use high rise refurbishment of former Golden Tower in Dalian, China

invited ideas competition 2008

The existing tower in the centre of Dalian has major design flaws and stands empty for many years. The competition was initiated to explore its adaptation and possible integration into the new World Trade Centre tower next to it.

Our proposal wraps a new skin around the existing floor plates which become partially extended to form a new morphology in balance with the context. The expanded internal volume will assist in a more functional distribution of the various programmes.

The extended floor plates are carved by a tesselated mesh of air shafts for energy-efficient climatisation and social connectivity.

The design strikes the balance between a striking visual appearance and identity on the one hand- and a subtle clean and receptive quality on the other.

development process
The tower is performing like a crystal: indexing and condensing light and changing in appearance according to ambient conditions